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ronson

(British, military, slang, obsolete) M4 Sherman tank - due to the proclivity of Shermans to burst into flames from a single hit.

ˈrɒnsənDocumented since 1940s1940sSilenthistoricalCurrent156 viewsLast reviewed Jun 29, 2026+ Add a definition
🇬🇧 British & Irish slang
1 definition
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Seen in the wild
5 citations · last seen May 2026

Etymology timeline

Born ~1940 · 1 year of recorded use
1940Born2026: 5 citationsToday, 2026

Seen in the wild

Definitions

UK
#1·Apr 27, 2026UK

(British, military, slang, obsolete) M4 Sherman tank - due to the proclivity of Shermans to burst into flames from a single hit.

Origin: From Ronson, manufacturer of lighters, in reference to their 1940s jingle "Lights first every time". Origin information sourced from Wiktionary contributors (CC BY-SA 4.0).
For parents

Ronson means: M4 Sherman tank - due to the proclivity of Shermans to burst into flames from a single hit.. The word is mostly archaic or historical; you will only encounter it in old texts, period drama, or school history rather than current teen conversation. There is no real cause for parental concern; it is descriptive vocabulary rather than risky behaviour.

For ESL learners

ronson means: M4 Sherman tank - due to the proclivity of Shermans to burst into flames from a single hit.. Register: archaic, historical. Almost never used today; you will find it only in older texts, dictionaries of dialect, or historical writing. Avoid in active vocabulary. A common learner mistake is using the word in a register it does not fit, or assuming a single global meaning; native speakers immediately notice when slang appears in formal contexts, so always check the surrounding register before producing it yourself.

Cluster: approval
Heard in the wild
  • “BBC Radio 1 Anthems Radio 1 Anthems: The Streets, Keri Hilson, Disclosure and more Now Playing Mark Ronson Nothing Breaks Like A Heart (feat. Miley Cyrus)”

    — Bluesky· May 2026
  • “Enter The Castle with Jon Ronson – Mystery, Crime & Unmoored Men: Cadogan Hall 08/09/2026, After three decades investigating the strange edges of human behaviour—from public shamings, psychopaths, to modern moral panics—Jon Ronson's latest true story turns unexpectedly close to …”

    — Bluesky· May 2026
  • “BBC Radio 1 Radio 1's New Music Show with Jack Saunders Now Playing Mark Ronson Late Night Feelings (feat. Lykke Li)”

    — Bluesky· May 2026
  • ““Late Night Feelings (feat. Lykke Li)” by Mark Ronson #nowplaying #radio1”

    — Bluesky· May 2026
  • “Mick Ronson - Growing Up and I’m Fine youtu.be/fbSMXZfKaUI?...”

    — Bluesky· May 2026
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For specific readers

Ronson means: M4 Sherman tank - due to the proclivity of Shermans to burst into flames from a single hit.. The word is mostly archaic or historical; you will only encounter it in old texts, period drama, or school history rather than current teen conversation. There is no real cause for parental concern; it is descriptive vocabulary rather than risky behaviour.

Why is this section here?

Slang is read by different audiences for very different reasons. The For parents view re-explains the term in plain, non-judgemental language so a caregiver can understand what their child means without needing the surrounding subculture. The For English learners view focuses on register (when it's safe to use), formal alternatives, and common mistakes — what a textbook won't teach you.

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UK

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🇬🇧About British & Irish slang slang

UK and Irish slang — Cockney, Scouse, Geordie, Yorkshire, Glaswegian, Brummie, Welsh, West Country, plus Irish English. Centuries of regional dialects feeding into modern British and Irish street talk.

See all British & Irish slang slang on Slangora.

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